The SettingIn the Vale of Usk, nestled in the serene landscape of the Brecon Beacons, you will find Llansantffraed Court. Arriving through rural, unspoilt Monmouthshire countryside, you approach down a long drive and, rounding the final corner, see the imposing building in all its glory. Built in the style of William and Mary, this Grade II-listed mansion, set in 20 acres of immaculate lawns, with specimen trees and walled kitchen garden, comes complete with spurting fountains in its own lake and 16th-century church, St Bridgets.

The RoomsThere are 21 rooms in all, all ensuite, and with a variety of double, twin and single rooms, some with four poster beds. The bedrooms on the first floors are all individually styled with terrific views through large French windows. All of the rooms on the second and top floor have original beams, many have fireplaces, and all have atmospheric leaded dormer windows. There are fluffy duvets, top quality linen and toiletries, flat screen digital TVs with radio channels, iPod docking stations, mini-bars, contemporary en suite bathrooms with high pressure showers, wireless broadband internet access and the inevitable trouser press.

One of the smart four-posters. Photo: Llansantffraed Court Country Hotel

The Food The restaurant offers locally sourced food, with 75% coming from within a 20-mile radius. The newly restored walled kitchen garden offers a variety of fruit, herbs and vegetables. The candle-lit, characterful oak beamed dining room is in the oldest part of the building. The menu changes daily, based on the seasonal produce available, with dishes such as aged longhorn Hereford or Welsh black beef, sweet, free-grazing Shropshire or Jacob lamb, Old Spot or Saddleback pork, and succulent Brecon venison. Fresh fish is from Swansea Bay and the Gower Peninsula, as well as seafood from the north Wales coast. Yum.

Local, seasonal food. Photo: Llansantffraed Court Country Hotel

The Activities The Brecon Beacons National park and Abergavenny are on your doorstep so go and explore, or just relax in the splendour of this country house hotel and curl up by the open fires in the sitting room with a good book or the Sunday papers. Without even leaving this glorious spot you can enjoy archery, bowls, croquet, go-karting, putting, quad bikes and shooting in the hotel grounds, and there's access to two beautiful bits of the adjacent River Usk offering salmon and trout fly-fishing, if you are so inclined. Raglan Castle and Tintern Abbey are just around the corner for a perfect day trip with the kids, as is Big Pit, where you can go on a guided underground tour with former miners at the World Heritage Site at Blaenavon.

Llansantffraed double bedroom Photo: Richard Hammond/Greentraveller

The GreenA recipient of a bronze Green Tourism Business Scheme award, there is a focus here on recycling and energy saving. They even have a little electric car for you to whiz about in called 'Tipyn'. The walled garden is rainwater fed.

Top Tip Book a room on the second or top floor where the original beams are still visible, and many rooms have open fireplaces and four poster beds for the ultimate romantic break.

Verdict This is a great place for a luxury house party, a family reunion or get together. Many weddings, meetings and business seminars are hosted here, so conferences and grand events are all well catered for.

Disclosure

Blogs posts categorised as 'Reviews' have been written with the support of one or more of the following: accommodation owner, activity provider, operator, equipment supplier, tourist board, protected landscape authority or other destination-focussed authority. The reviewer retains full editorial control of the work, which has been written in the reviewer's own words based on their experience of the accommodation, activity, equipment or destination.